"I told David that unless they can do a public-private partnership, the museum won't be successful," said Thomas, who has been working with David Wood, museum president. "The City can't just give you money."

David Wood, president of the Santa Fe Rail Museum Board, greets the city council members as they prepare to tour the facility.(Photo: Ken Grimm)

Mayor Brenda Gunter had specific questions:

You had a 20-year lease, what grants and foundations have you applied to for facilities maintenance? What have you been doing for the past 19 years?

"You don't get a $1 a year lease without expectations," she said. "You have to try to do more than just survive."

The many model train layouts at the Santa Fe Depot Rail Museum offer a stunning amount of detail.(Photo: Ken Grimm)

The city has nine $1-per-year rental agreements with various groups, including the Boys Scouts of America and the Stephens Central Library, according to City staff. The City doesn't provide maintenance on those, and requires tenants to put in improvements, staff said.

The museum's lease, which is expiring in September, holds the city responsible for:

Maintaining the elevator and the heating and cooling system, along with replacing the heating and cooling system when needed.

May work with the Historic Depot board to secure grants.

City Manager Daniel Valenzuela summed up the City's position: "For us to be confident moving forward we have to be sure history doesn't repeat itself," he said, referring to past museum plans that failed to come to fruition.

"We want to make sure we have a building we are proud of and a tenant who's excited to do more," Gunter said. "We want something we can all be proud of."

Thomas also had advised the board it needed younger members and new energy, and Wood has been working toward that goal. Brandy Petty is among his new recruits, and a few others are lined up.

The San Angelo City Council and the Santa Fe Rail Museum Board sit down to discuss the terms of the lease agreement of the museum.(Photo: Ken Grimm)

After a lengthy discussion, Petty summed up what she heard the City asking the board for:

Short-, mid- and long-term plans for the museum

Better (computerized) record-keeping on assets

Increased marketing and fundraising

Seeking grants and other money to help with upkeep.

Both sides appeared relieved to have a plan of action to move forward.

“It's good to get away from the rumors and get on the same page. Now we have a list to work from. I think that's what we needed.”

Brandy Petty, Railway Museum board member

"We need to sit down and negotiate in good faith," Councilman Tommy Hiebert said. "We can come up with something that benefits both parties, holds both parties accountable."

Petty said she appreciated the dialogue.

"It's good to get away from the rumors and get on the same page," she said. "Now we have a list to work from. I think that's what we needed."

She said the board is changing and members contribute different skill sets. Petty has marketing and event-planning experience, and other new members will bring computer skills, energy and organization. However, she said, the contributions of past generations can't be discounted.

"If you think of the progress they have made, it's actually pretty impressive," Petty said. "Twenty years ago, this building was ready to be torn down."

CLOSE

Brandy Petty, a board member of the railway museum board, shares her thoughts for the future.
Rashda Khan/ San Angelo Standard-Times

Wood said once the lease is signed, the organization can seek grant and other funding, explore hiring a full-time executive director to give the museum a higher profile and direction, increase hours and more.

In 2016, the museum had 3,099 visitors, of whom 69 percent came from outside the city. Volunteers put in 5,964 hours the same year. They host about 20 to 30 school tours from the San Angelo area and farther.